Gone are the days when residents could hear the sound of an ice cream truck bringing sweet treats door to door.

No need to worry, though. Multiple businesses within the Arkansas River Valley offer a myriad of options for cool summer treats ranging in calories and nutrition.

Ice cream, the perennial favorite, can be bought by the gallon at grocery stores, served in cones or cups at almost every fast food location and personalized with a variety of toppings at many eating establishments.

Pile High Dessert on Parkway Drive celebrates its two-year anniversary next moth.

The frozen yogurt establishment, owned by Mike and Sandy Mathes, offers self-serve frozen yogurt in 10 flavors daily and more than 50 toppings ranging from cookie dough to gummy octopuses to encourage an individualized experience.

“We really have something for everyone,” Mike Mathes said. “Moms and dads will enjoy it as much as the kids. We have traditional flavors, plus some unusual flavors for those with more adventurous taste buds.”

Similar to ice cream and frozen yogurt, smoothies have gained popularity in recent years and can be made at home or purchased at several locations throughout the area, including most fast-food restaurants.

Ramona Hodges, clinical dietitian for Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, said fruit smoothies are a healthy alternative to ice cream and can be customized to offer a variety of nutritional options.

“Basic smoothies are really simple to make,” Hodges said. “Just choose your favorite fruit or combine several to make a flavor combination. Then add milk, juice and ice, and blend. Ice is optional, it really is a preference. For thicker smoothies add less juice and vice versa for thinner options. Smoothies really are a great nutritional way to cool off.”

Hodges said plain yogurt can be used to lower calories and honey is a great source for adding a natural sweetness.

Along the same lines as a smoothie, but without the nutritional benefits are shaved ice and sno cones, which come in more than 70 flavors at most local stands. The traditional flavors of strawberry, grape, cherry and orange are still available, but flavors like Barbie and Sponge Bob are more popular.

Just exactly what does Barbie taste like? According to 3-year-old Ella Clayton’s mom Jarrah, it tastes like cotton candy with cream added to it.

“Ella always wants the Barbie,” Jarrah Clayton said of their afternoon visits to the shaved ice stand. “I think it’s really about the color. She likes pink.”

Ella’s older sister Alicia likes to try a variety of flavors, but said pickle was a favorite.

Specialty stores are great for focusing on a particular frozen concoction, but Sonic remains a family favorite for a variety of frozen treats. Sonic boasts it offers 398,9229 drink flavor combinations and serve a full dessert menu all day. New this year is the mini size for Sonic Blasts, a blended ice cream treat which comes in a variety of flavors.

Sonic offers half price drinks and slushes from 7-9 a.m. each morning and from 2-4 p.m. every afternoon. Kara Cobb, a manager for Sonic, said there are several promotions offered during the summer.

“During the summer, shakes are half price after 8 p.m.” Cobb said. “And on June 20 shakes are half price the entire day in celebration of Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.”

Hodges said staying cool is about more than just finding fun, tasty treats. She said staying cool and hydrated is important to maintain a desirable core body temperature. “Our body’s natural cooling system is to sweat,” Hodges said. “We have to continually replace the water within our bodies, and we really need to drink lots of water for that and stay away from sugary and decaffeinated beverages.”

Hodges said when our bodies sweat, the air evaporates the sweat which causes an air conditioning effect. When the air is warm and humid, the sweat does not evaporate,- which inhibits the natural cooling process, making cooling off and hydration more important.

Hodges’ tasty tips at home for staying cool

Frozen grapes make a great cool nutritional anytime snack

Frozen banana, peel and dip in chocolate for an added sweetness

Frozen 100 percent juice cubes- freeze juice in ice cube trays and then dispense into bowl and chop up. Easy treat to eat with a spoon.

Freeze water bottles before going on trips or working outdoors.

Fresh or frozen fruit.

Smoothie tip — freeze fresh fruit instead of buying frozen fruit. Also add flax seed or fiber for added benefits that don’t affect taste and also blend in some veggies (kids will only taste the sweet).